ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Tongxinluo capsules on traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome elements and major adverse cardiovascular events （MACEs） in patients with chronic coronary syndrome of Qi deficiency and blood stasis type. MethodsA multicenter and prospective cohort study was conducted. The intervention of Tongxinluo Capsules was used as the exposure factor， and the patients were divided into an exposure group （integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group） and a non-exposure group （western medicine treatment group）. The patients were followed up for one year. The TCM syndrome element scores were assessed by using a syndrome element diagnosis scale on the day of enrollment and in the third， sixth， and twelfth months， and the incidence of MACE within one year was recorded. ResultsA total of 186 patients were included， with 128 patients in the exposure group and 58 patients in the non-exposure group. There was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups. Compared with those in the pretreatment period for each group， the Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome scores in the treatment and follow-up period were significantly improved （P<0.05）. Compared with the non-exposure group， the exposure group exhibited significantly decreased Qi deficiency syndrome scores in the treatment and follow-up period （P<0.01） and significantly reduced blood stasis syndrome scores in the sixth month （P<0.05）. In the remaining follow-up period， there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Compared with that of the non-exposure group， during the treatment period （the third month）， the difference in Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome scores of the exposure group was statistically significant （P<0.05， P<0.01）. At the end of the follow-up period， patients in the non-exposure group had a MACE probability of 6.90% （4/58）， higher than 3.13% in the exposure group （4/58）. Compared with patients with angina pectoris who used conventional medicine， patients administered with Tongxinluo Capsules had a relative risk（RR） of 0.45 ［95%confidence interval（95%CI） 0.12-1.75， P=0.26］. There was no significant difference in the incidence of MACE within one year between the two groups. ConclusionTongxinluo capsules can improve the degree of Qi deficiency in patients with chronic coronary syndrome in the short term， and the improvement effect of blood stasis syndrome appears in the medium and long term. They can better improve the Qi deficiency syndrome in the long term. Within one year， the incidence of MACE in the exposure group was lower than that in the non-exposure group.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Tongxinluo capsules on traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome elements and major adverse cardiovascular events （MACEs） in patients with chronic coronary syndrome of Qi deficiency and blood stasis type. MethodsA multicenter and prospective cohort study was conducted. The intervention of Tongxinluo Capsules was used as the exposure factor， and the patients were divided into an exposure group （integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group） and a non-exposure group （western medicine treatment group）. The patients were followed up for one year. The TCM syndrome element scores were assessed by using a syndrome element diagnosis scale on the day of enrollment and in the third， sixth， and twelfth months， and the incidence of MACE within one year was recorded. ResultsA total of 186 patients were included， with 128 patients in the exposure group and 58 patients in the non-exposure group. There was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups. Compared with those in the pretreatment period for each group， the Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome scores in the treatment and follow-up period were significantly improved （P<0.05）. Compared with the non-exposure group， the exposure group exhibited significantly decreased Qi deficiency syndrome scores in the treatment and follow-up period （P<0.01） and significantly reduced blood stasis syndrome scores in the sixth month （P<0.05）. In the remaining follow-up period， there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Compared with that of the non-exposure group， during the treatment period （the third month）， the difference in Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome scores of the exposure group was statistically significant （P<0.05， P<0.01）. At the end of the follow-up period， patients in the non-exposure group had a MACE probability of 6.90% （4/58）， higher than 3.13% in the exposure group （4/58）. Compared with patients with angina pectoris who used conventional medicine， patients administered with Tongxinluo Capsules had a relative risk（RR） of 0.45 ［95%confidence interval（95%CI） 0.12-1.75， P=0.26］. There was no significant difference in the incidence of MACE within one year between the two groups. ConclusionTongxinluo capsules can improve the degree of Qi deficiency in patients with chronic coronary syndrome in the short term， and the improvement effect of blood stasis syndrome appears in the medium and long term. They can better improve the Qi deficiency syndrome in the long term. Within one year， the incidence of MACE in the exposure group was lower than that in the non-exposure group.

Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) significantly endangers the lives of individuals with Marfan syndrome (MFS), yet the intricacies of their biomechanical origins remain elusive. Our investigation delves into the pivotal role of hemodynamic disturbance in the pathogenesis of TAA, with a particular emphasis on the mechanistic contributions of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling cascade. We uncovered that activation of the mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) within smooth muscle cells, instigated by the oscillatory wall shear stress (OSS) that stems from disturbed flow (DF), is a catalyst for TAA progression. This revelation was corroborated through both an MFS mouse model (Fbn1 ^+/C1039G) and clinical MFS specimens. Crucially, our research demonstrates a direct linkage between the activation of the mTORC1 pathway and the intensity in OSS. Therapeutic administration of rapamycin suppresses mTORC1 activity, leading to the attenuation of aberrant SMC behavior, reduced inflammatory infiltration, and restoration of extracellular matrix integrity-collectively decelerating TAA advancement in our mouse model. These insights posit the mTORC1 axis as a strategic target for intervention, offering a novel approach to manage TAAs in MFS and potentially pave insights for current treatment paradigms.

Objective:To develop and validate a predictive model of 28-day mortality in sepsis based on lactate dehydrogenase-to-albumin ratio (LAR).Methods:Sepsis patients diagnosed in the department of intensive care medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from August 1, 2017 to September 1, 2022 were retrospective selected. Clinical data, laboratory indicators, disease severity scores [acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA)] were collected. Patients were divided into death group and survival group according to whether they died at 28 days, and the difference between the two groups was compared. The dataset was randomly divided into training set and validation set according to 7∶3. Lasso regression method was used to screen the risk factors affecting the 28-day death of sepsis patients, and incorporating multivariate Logistic regression analysis (stepwise regression) were included, a prediction model was constructed based on the independent risk factors obtained, and a nomogram was drawn. The nomogram prediction model was established. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to analyze and evaluate the predictive efficacy of the model. Hosmer-Lemeshow test, calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the accuracy and clinical practicability of the model, respectively.Results:A total of 394 patients with sepsis were included, with 248 survivors and 146 non-survivors at 28 days. Compared with the survival group, the age, proportion of chronic obstructive pneumonia, respiratory rate, lactic acid, red blood cell distribution width, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, blood potassium, blood phosphorus, LAR, SOFA score, and APACHEⅡ score in the death group were significantly increased, while oxygenation index, monocyte count, platelet count, fibrinogen, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and blood calcium were significantly reduced. In the training set, LAR, age, oxygenation index, blood urea nitrogen, lactic acid, total cholesterol, fibrinogen, blood potassium and blood phosphorus were screened by Lasso regression. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis finally included LAR [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.029, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.014-1.047, P < 0.001], age ( OR = 1.023, 95% CI was 1.005-1.043, P = 0.012), lactic acid ( OR = 1.089, 95% CI was 1.003-1.186, P = 0.043), oxygenation index ( OR = 0.996, 95% CI was 0.993-0.998, P = 0.002), total cholesterol ( OR = 0.662, 95% CI was 0.496-0.865, P = 0.003) and blood potassium ( OR = 1.852, 95% CI was 1.169-2.996, P = 0.010). A total of 6 predictor variables were used to establish a prediction model. ROC curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the model in the training set and validation set were 0.773 (95% CI was 0.715-0.831) and 0.793 (95% CI was 0.703-0.884), which was better than APACHEⅡ score (AUC were 0.699 and 0.745) and SOFA score (AUC were 0.644 and 0.650), and the cut-off values were 0.421 and 0.309, the sensitivity were 62.4% and 82.2%, and the specificity were 82.2% and 68.9%, respectively. The results of Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve showed that the predicted results of the model were in good agreement with the actual clinical observation results, and the DCA showed that the model had good clinical application value. Conclusion:The prediction model based on LAR has a good predictive value for 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis and can guide clinical decision-making.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Tongxinluo capsules on the use of anti-ischemic drugs in patients with chronic coronary syndrome （CCS） of Qi deficiency and blood stasis. MethodA multicenter，prospective cohort study was conducted，with Tongxinluo capsules intervention as the exposure factor. Patients were divided into an exposed group （combination of traditional Chinese and western medicine） and a non-exposed group （western medicine alone），and followed up for one year. The use of anti-ischemic drugs was observed on the day of enrollment and at 3，6，12 months. ResultA total of 186 patients were enrolled，with 128 in the exposed group and 58 in the non-exposed group. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. At the 3-month follow-up，the types of first-line anti-ischemic drugs used in the exposed group were significantly fewer than those in the non-exposed group （P<0.01），and this difference remained statistically significant at 6 months （P<0.05） but was no longer significant at 12 months. At the 3- and 6-month follow-ups，there were no significant differences between the two groups in the types of second-line anti-ischemic drugs used. However，at the 12-month follow-up，the types of second-line anti-ischemic drugs used in the exposed group were significantly fewer than those in the non-exposed group （P<0.01）. At the 3-month follow-up，both groups showed a reduction in the types of first-line anti-ischemic drugs used compared to baseline （P<0.05），with a more pronounced reduction in the exposed group （P<0.05）. At the 6-month follow-up，the exposed group showed a significant reduction in the types of second-line anti-ischemic drugs used compared to baseline （P<0.05），while no significant changes were observed in the non-exposed group. At the 12-month follow-up，the difference in the types of second-line anti-ischemic drugs between the exposed and non-exposed groups was statistically significant （P<0.05），while there was no significant difference in the types of first-line anti-ischemic drugs. ConclusionTongxinluo capsules can effectively reduce the use of anti-ischemic drugs in patients with CCS of Qi deficiency and blood stasis.

ObjectiveTo discuss the effects of Cistanches Herba phenylethanoid glycosides （CHPhGs） on the intestinal mucosal barrier and gut microbiota in alcoholic liver disease （ALD） mice were discussed. MethodThe 36 C57BL/6N female mice were randomly divided normal group， normal group of CHPhGs， model group， and low， medium， and high-dose groups （175， 350， 700 mg·kg^-1） of CHPhGs， with six mice in each group. The ALD mouse model was built using Lieber-Decarli alcohol liquid feed. The normal group and low， medium， and high-dose groups of CHPhGs were given CHPhGs by gavage daily. Serum aspartate aminotransferase aminotransferase （ALT）， alanine aminotransferase （AST）， triglycerides （TG）， and total cholesterol （TC） levels were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， lipopolysaccharide-binding protein （LBP）， D-lactic acid （D-LA）， diamine oxidase （DAO）， and LBP of liver were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The levels of TG and TC in the liver were detected by colorimetry. Liver tissue was treated by oil red O and hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The microstructure of jejunum epithelial cells was observed by electron microscope. Jejunum and colon were treated by HE staining and alcian blue-periodate-scheff (AB-PAS) staining staining， and mucin 2 （Muc2） was treated by immunohistochemistry. The intestinal contents of the normal group， normal group of CHPhGs， model group， and high-dose group of CHPhGs were collected and sequenced. ResultThe ALD model was established successfully. Compared with the normal group， the levels of serum ALT， AST， and TG， as well as the levels of liver TG and TC in the model group were significantly increased （P<0.05）. Histopathology showed that compared with the normal group， the liver cells in the model group showed obvious steatosis. Compared with the model group， the levels of serum TG and liver TG and TC in the low， medium， and high-dose groups of CHPhGs decreased significantly （P<0.05）. The serum ALT， AST， TNF-α， IL-1β， LPS， and LBP in the high-dose group of CHPhGs were also significantly decreased （P<0.05）. The number of liver cells with steatosis in the high-dose group of CHPhGs was significantly reduced， and the microvilli structure of jejunum epithelial cells was basically intact. The expression of Muc2 was reduced in the colon， and the gut microbiota of the high-dose group of CHPhGs changed significantly （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， the Allobaculum was significantly up-regulated in the model group （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the abundance of Akkermansia in the high-dose group of CHPhGs was significantly increased （P<0.01）. The abundance of Akkermansia was negatively correlated with that of Allobaculum （r=-0.701， P<0.01）. ConclusionCHPhGs can reduce the intestinal barrier injury caused by ALD， which may play a protective role by regulating the abundance and structure of Akkermansia and Allobaculum and affecting the homeostasis of intestinal mucus.

Objective:To explore the application effect of the CICARE communication model in patient communication in the waiting room for cardiac interventional therapy.Methods:The 108 patients in the waiting room for cardiac interventional therapy at a hospital from January 2023 to May 2023 were selected as the study subjects.Among them,55 patients from January to March 2023 were assigned to the control group,and 53 patients from April to May 2023 were assigned to the intervention group.The control group received the traditional communication model for communication and health education,and the intervention group received the CICARE communication model for communication and health education.The intervention effects were compared between the two groups.Results:After implementing the CICARE communication model,the preoperative anxiety level of patients in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group[(12.30±4.30)Vs.(15.41±2.35),P<0.01].The intervention group had a significantly better understanding of surgical objectives and procedures[(4.70±0.54)Vs.(3.66±0.67),P<0.001],preoperative preparation(P<0.001),intra-operative position and communication[(3.89±0.32)Vs.(3.03±0.57),P<0.001],and post-operative precautions[(5.26±0.71)Vs.(4.17±0.71),P<0.001]than the control group.In addition,the number of people in the intervention group who was satisfied with the evaluation of nursing work(χ2=23.923,P<0.001)and the overall satisfaction score were significantly higher than those in the control group[(68.48±6.42)Vs.(45.79±12.56),P<0.001].Conclusion:Patient education based on the CICARE communication model can effectively inprove communication efficiency,improve the body stress response,enhance patient satisfaction with nursing work,and promote a harmonious nurse-patient relationship.

Objective:To analyze the therapeutic effect and safety of simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy for lung cancer brain metastases.Methods:A total of 300 patients with lung cancer brain metastases admitted to the Department of Oncology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital from March 2021 to March 2023 were selected as the study objects. The patients were divided into control group ( n=150) and study group ( n=150) by random number table method. The control group received sequential three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, while the study group received simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy. The short-term and medium-term efficacy, target dose, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results:The short-term and medium-term total effective rates of the study group were 73.33% (110/150) and 88.67% (133/150), respectively, which were higher than those of the control group [51.33% (77/150) and 71.33% (107/150) ] ( χ2=15.46, P<0.001; χ2=14.08, P<0.001). The D min in gross tumor planning target volume and whole brain clinical planning target volume of the study group were (23.78±1.11) and (58.46±0.55) Gy, respectively, which were higher than those in the control group [ (16.67±1.08) and (53.44±0.74) Gy], with statistically significant differences ( t=56.22, P<0.001; t=66.68, P<0.001). The D mean in gross tumor planning target volume and whole brain clinical planning target volume of the study group were (44.12±0.87) and (62.19±0.57) Gy, respectively, which were higher than those in the control group [ (37.55±0.89) and (57.78±0.82) Gy], with statistically significant differences ( t=64.65, P<0.001; t=54.08, P<0.001). The total incidence of adverse reactions was 30.67% (46/150) in the study group and 36.67% (55/150) in the control group, with no significantly significant difference ( χ2=1.20, P=0.271) . Conclusion:Compared with sequential three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy has better short-term and medium-term efficacy in patients with lung cancer brain metastases. Target dose can be increased without increasing adverse reactions.

[Objective] To investigate the effects of fluoride on kallikrein-4 (KLK4) and cell apoptosis as well as the possible mechanisms in ALC cells. [Methods] ALC cells were treated with different concentrations of fluoride for 24 and 48 hours. The effects on cell viability, cell cycle and cell apoptosis were detected using CCK-8, flow cytometry and hoechst 33342, respectively. KLK4 expression was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, and the protein expressions of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), p-eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) were detected by Western blotting. [Results] The results showed that the expression of KLK4 was significantly reduced after treatment with 1.0 and 2.0 mmol/L NaF for 24 and 48 hours (P<0.05). The difference was statistically significant in cell activity between 2.0 mmol/L NaF treatment group and the control group (P<0.05). The G0/G1 phase cells significantly reduced and the S phase cells significantly increased after treatment with 0.1 and 1.0 mmol/L NaF for 24 hours (P<0.05), while the G0/G1 phase cells significantly increased and the S phase cells significantly reduced in the 2.0 mmol/L NaF treatment cells (P<0.05). The G0/G1 phase cells significantly increased and G2/M phase cells significantly reduced after treatment with 2.0 mmol/L NaF for 48 hours (P<0.05). With the increase of NaF treatment concentration, the number of bright blue cells gradually increased, and the percentage of apoptosis also increased successively. Except for the cells treated with 0.1 mmol/L NaF for 24 hours, the apoptosis rate of the other fluoride treatment groups was statistically significant compared with the control group (P<0.05). The expressions of GRP78 and p-eIF2α were significantly increased after treatment with 0.1, 1.0, and 2.0 mmol/L NaF for 24 hours (P<0.05). The expressions of ATF4 and CHOP were significantly increased after treatment with 1.0 and 2.0 mmol/L NaF for 24 hours (P<0.05). The expressions of ATF4 and CHOP were significantly increased after treatment with 0.1, 1.0, and 2.0 mmol/L NaF for 48 hours (P<0.05). [Conclusion] Sodium fluoride may result in inhibition of KLK4 expression and abnormal cell growth, possibly by inducing GRP78 expression and activating eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway in ALC ameloblasts.

Objective To investigate the effect of calcium ions on the expression of kallikrein-4(KLK4)and cell growth of ameloblast,and to provide an experimental basis for calcium ion promoting normal mineralization of enamel.Methods ALC cells were treated with 0,2.0,2.5,3.0,and 3.5 mmol/L CaCl2 for 24 and 48 h.KLK4 expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis.The viability of ALC cells was determined by using CCK-8.Annex-inV-FITC/PI dual staining combined with flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342 staining were used to detect the ALC cell cycle and cell apoptosis.The protein expression level of glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78)was measured by West-ern blot analysis.Results After 24 h of treatment with 2.5,3.0,and 3.5 mmol/L CaCl2,the expression of KLK4 mRNA was increased(P＜0.05),and after 24 h of treatment with 2.0,2.5,3.0,and 3.5 mmol/L CaCl2,the expression of KLK4 protein was increased(P＜0.05).After 48 h of treatment with 3.0 mmol/L and 3.5 mmol/L CaCl2,the expression of KLK4 mRNA and protein was increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the viability of ALC cells was in-creased after 24 and 48 h of treatment with 2.0,2.5,and 3.0 mmol/L CaCl2(P＜0.05),and the highest cell viability was observed with 2.5 mmol/L CaCl2.Hoechst 33342 staining results showed that 3.0 mmol/L and 3.5 mmol/L CaCl2 may promote apoptosis in ALC cells.Flow cytometry showed that the proportion of G2/M phase cells and the apoptosis rate increased after 3.5 mmol/L CaCl2 treatment for 24 h(P＜0.05),compared with the 0,2.0,2.5,and 3.0 mmol/L CaCl2 groups.After 24 h of treatment with 3.0 mmol/L and 3.5 mmol/L CaCl2,the expression of GRP78 protein was re-duced(P＜0.05),and after 48 h of treatment with 2.5 mmol/L CaCl2,the expression of GRP78 protein was reduced(P＜0.05).Conclusion Calcium ions can promote the increase of KLK4 expression and cell viability in ALC cells,but a higher concentration of calcium ions can block the G2/M phase of ALC cells,thus inducing apoptosis of ALC cells and reducing the expression of apoptosation-related protein GRP78.